Mining machine



May 19, 1936.. F. A. LINDGREN MINING MACHINE Filed May 21, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jrank Q [wig/"e12 y 1936- F. A. LINDGREN 2,041,420

MINING MACHENE Filed May 21, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 area 1% Patented May 19, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MINING MACHINE Application May 21, 1934, Serial No. 726,623

13 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in mining machines of the type adapted to cut coal in mines while being fed along the working place by flexible feeding members and more particularly 5 to an improved guiding means for the flexible feeding members.

Among the objects of my invention are to provide a new and improved construction of cable guiding means particularly adapted for use with 10 mining machines for guiding the flexible feeding members from either of two winding drums in a plurality of directions from either the forward or rearward end of the machine when trained from the top or bottom of their respective winding drums.

Mining machines of the reversible room and pillar type, and especially those adapted to 0perate in mines having pitching seams, are usually provided with a pair of independently operable,

20 power operated winding drums arranged to normally rotate in the same direction and wind flexible feeding members thereon, for moving the machine up to or away from the working face and feeding and controlling movement of the machine across the working face. In cutting across the working face, one feeding member is usually trained from the top of its respective winding drum from the forward end of the machine to a fixed abutment remote therefrom, while the other 30 feeding member is trained from the bottom of its winding drum from the rearward end of the machine in an opposite "direction to a fixed abutment, so both drums may wind their associated flexible feeding members thereon, if desired.

When the direction of cutting is reversed, it is necessary to reverse the direction of movement of the cutter chain and accordingly rewind the feeding members on their respective winding drums in an opposite direction than formerly, in order that said drums may wind their associated flexible feeding members thereon. Said feeding members must thus be trained from their winding drums in an opposite manner than formerly. A v complicated system of guide sheaves has heretofore been provided for training the flexible feeding members from the top or bottom of their respective winding drums in a plurality of directions from either end of the machine for feeding and controlling movement of the machine, and rearwardly from the central portion thereof for moving the machine onto. its truck. My invention simplifies the arrangement of guide sheaves and provides an eflicient .and simple arrangement of sheaves for guiding the flexible feeding members from the machine in a multiplicity of direc- CAD tions for feeding and controlling movement of the machine when the winding drums are rotating in one direction or another.

Other objects of my invention will appear from time to time as the following specification pro- 5 ceeds.

My invention may be more clearly understood by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a mining machine illustrating one form in which my invention may be embodied;

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail fragmentary side elevation of the forward portion of one side of the machine with parts broken away and shown in section;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail side elevation of the forward portion of the side of the machine opposite from that shown in Figure 2, with parts broken away and in section Figure 4 is an enlarged partial fragmentary detail view of a forward guide sheave showing certain parts in section;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view of the rearward portion of the machine shown in Figure 1, showing the flexible feeding member trained rearwardly from the bottom of one winding drum;

Figure 6 is a view similar to the view shown in Figure 5 showing the flexible feeding member wound on the same winding drum in an opposite direction than in Figure 2, and trained from the top of the said winding drum;

Figure '7 is a partial fragmentary rear end view ofthe machine showing the flexible feeding member trained from the winding drum opposite to the drum shown in Figures 5 and 6; and

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail, sectional view of the locking means for a rearward guide sheave.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, my improved form of guiding means is shown as being incorporated in a mining machine of the room and pillar type. Said mining machine will only be described insofar as is necessary to illustrate my present invention and includes a motor I0 having a cutter frame I l extending forwardly therefrom. Said cutter frame forms a support means for suitable cutting mechanism which includes a forwardly projecting cutter bar l2 having a cutter chain l3 movable thereabout. Said cutter chain is driven from said motor through a. suitable geared reduction drive which includes a bevel gear and pinion generally indicated by reference character M, and a sprocket l5 driven therebyand meshing with said cutter chain.

A feeding frame It is secured to the rearward end of said motor and forms a support means for the feeding mechanism, which includes a winding drum IT on the left hand side of the machine, when looking toward the cutter bar from the rearward end thereof, and a winding drum l8 on the opposite side of said feeding frame, which is shown as being coaxial with said first-mentioned drum. Flexible feeding members, such as flexible cables 19 and 28 are Wound on said winding drums i7 and 18, respectively, for feeding and controlling movement of the machine about the mine. Said winding drums, as herein shown, are independently driven from the rearward end of the motor I0 by means of a worm and worm gear drive, generally indicated by reference character 2!, and suitable independently controlled planetary geared reduction devices 22, 22 driven therefrom and disposed on each side thereof. Said planetaries are of a construction similar to that disclosed in a prior application, Serial No. 698,599, filed by me on November 18, 1933, and. are controlled by suitable hand wheels 23, 23. Rotation of said winding drums when disconnected from said planetaris may be controlled by any suitable means; such as, friction bands 24, 24 operated by suitable hand levers 25, 25 in the usual manner.

The winding drums l1 and I8 are arranged so as to normally rotate in the same direction and simultaneously wind the feeding cables thereon if desired. In cutting from right to left, the flexible feeding member I9 may be trained from the top of the drum I! and outwardly from the forward left hand side of the machine to a fixed abutment remote therefrom. The cable on the opposite drum is usually trained from the bottom thereof rearwardly therefrom and outwardly from the right hand rearward end of the machine. Thus, by manipulation of the planetaries 22, 22 the machine may be continuously fed by the cable l9 and held in the desired relationship with respect to the face of the coal, or manipulated around obstructions in the coal face by the retarding effect of, or the application of power to the other winding drum and cable. When reversing the machine to cut from left to right in order that the cutter chain may travel in the proper direction for cutting, the cables must be rewound on their respective winding drums inan opposite direction than previously described. Thus, the cables must be trained from the opposite side of their respective drums than formerly.

Referring now in particular to the novel features of my invention and the means for guiding the cables l9 and 20 from the respective winding drums I1 and I8, a guide sheave 26 is provided on the forward side of the machine adjacent the winding drum i8. Said guide sheave is journaled on a support member 21 which is pivoted to a bracket 29 for movement about an axis extending generally longitudinally of the machine. Said bracket is pivoted on a boss 30 formed integral with and extending outwardly from the cutter frame H and held in position thereon by means of a stud and nut, indicated by reference character 3| (see Figure 4) Thus, said bracket and guide sheave may be pivoted about an axis extending transversely of the machine for raising said guide sheave and permitting said guide sheave to lie along the side of the machine in an inoperative position when desired. Suitable locking means are provided for locking said guide sheave in various angular positions with respect to said cutter frame and holding said sheave in alignment with the cable 29 as it is trained from the winding drum l8. Said means is herein shown as being a spring-pressed plunger, indicated by reference character 32, and best shown in Figure 2. Said spring-pressed plunger is carried in the cutter frame H and adapted to engage any one of a number of apertures 33 formed in the rim of the bracket 29.

A guide sheave 34 is provided on the opposite side of the machine from the guide sheave 26 lo and is mounted thereon in a manner similar to the manner in which the guide sheave 26 is mounted on the cutter frame H, so the support for said guide sheave will not herein be described in detail. Said last-mentioned guide 15 sheave may be held in various adjusted positions with respect to said cutter frame and in alignment with the cable [9 as it is trained from the winding drum I! by means of a suitable springpressed plunger 35 in a manner similar to the manner in which the guide sheave 26 is locked in position with respect to said cutter frame.

The cables I9 and 26 may be directed from the rearward end of the machine by means of a guide sheave 36 disposed rearwardly of the M winding drum I! and adapted to have the flexible cable [9 trained therearound, and a guide sheave 37 on the opposite side of the rearward end of the machine adapted to have the flexible cable 28 trained therearound. The construction of each of said guide sheaves and the mounting therefor is similar, so the construction of one of said sheaves only will herein be described in detail.

The guide sheave 3'! is rotatably mounted on a bracket 39. Said bracket is mounted on an arm40 of a rotatable support member 4| for pivotal movement with respect thereto about an axis offset from and perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said sheave. Said bracket is so arranged that the center line of the groove of said sheave is substantially in alignment with the center line of the winding drum i i in order that a cable may be trained around said sheave inwardly toward the center of the machine or outwardly away from the machine by pivoting said bracket about its axis of pivotal connection to said arm, which forms a means for adjusting said sheave so it may extend outwardly from the machine or inwardly towards the machine and remain in alignment with the center line of the winding drum.

The support member 4! includes a cylindrical portion 42 which is journaled for movement about an axis extending transversely of the machine in bearing support means 43 formed integral with the feeding frame l6 adjacent the rearward end thereof. A flange 44 abuts the outer side of the bearing support means 43. The arm 40 is formed integral with said flange and extends outwardly therefrom (see Figures 1, 6 and 7). A collar 45 is secured to the inner end of the cylindrical portion 42 by means of suitable cap screws and abuts the inner side of said bearing support means for holding said support member from translational movement with respect to said bearing support means.

Suitable means are provided for locking said rotatable support member in various positions with respect to said feeding frame, which in the form shown, includes a spring-pressed plunger, indicated by reference character 46 and best shown in Figures 1 and 8. Said spring-pressed plunger is carried in a lug 41 formed integral with the flange 44, and is adapted to selectively engage suitable apertures formed in the feeding frame Hi.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the guide sheave 3! is pivotally movable about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the winding drum l8 and about an axis offset from its axis of rotation and perpendicular to said firstmentioned axis. Thus, said guide sheave may be inclined upwardly or downwardly with respect to said winding drum at such an angle as to conform to the angle of the cable 20 when trained from the top or bottom thereof.

A guide sheave 49 is provided adjacent the, central rearward portion of the feeding frame l6 and forms a means whereby either of the cables I9 or 26 may be trained therearound for moving the machinedirectly rearwardly from the working face onto a truck for transporting the machine from working place to working place in the usual manner. Each support member H is provided with a slot 5i? extending longitudinally therealong to provide a means whereby the respective cables may readily be trained through the center of the cylindrical portion of the support member and around the guide sheave 49. It is thus apparent that when either of the guide sheaves 36 or 3? are pivoted about the axis of pivotal connection of the brackets 39 to the arm 46 so as to extend inwardly with respect to the arm -50, that the respective flexible cable I9 or 2% may readily be trained therearound through the support member ii and around the guide sheave 49 to a point disposed rearwardly of the machine for moving the machine rearwardly along the mine bottom on its own bottom. This provides a simple and effective guide means which may readily conform to the angle of inclination of the cable with respect to its drum as it is trained from its drum and eliminates a plurality of sheaves for training said cable in the required direction.

It may thus be seen that a new and improved means of a simplified construction has been provided for guiding the feeding cables of a mining machine from their respective feeding drums in any desire-d direction when paid oif from the top or bottom 'of the drum; and that this guiding means is of such an arrangement as to engage and guide the cable in a most efficient manner and to eliminate a multiplicity of guide sheaves for guiding the feeding cables from the machine.

While I have herein shown and described one form of my invention, it will be understood that the construction and arrangement of the various parts may be altered without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Furthermore, I do not wish to be construed as limiting myself to the specific form illustrated, excepting as it may be. specifically limited in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a cable guiding means of the class described, the combination with a mining machine, a pair of winding drums independently rotatable with respect to each other, each of said winding drums having a flexible feeding member adapted to be wound thereon, and means for training either of said flexible feeding members rearwardly from the central portion of the machine when trained from the top or bottom of its respective feed drum comprising a pair of coaxial members disposed adjacent the rearward end of said machine for rotation about an axis extending transversely thereof, a guide sheave disposed between said members for rotation about a vertical axis, and a guide sheave carried on the outer end of each of said members for pivotal movement with respect thereto about an axis disposed perpendicularly to the axis of said member and perpendicularly to and offset from the axis of rotation of said sheave, each of said members being hollow to permit training of said flexible feeding members therethrough.

2. In a cable guiding means of the class described, the combination with a mining machine, a pair of winding drums independently rotatable with respect to each other, each of said winding drums having a flexible feeding member adapted to be wound thereon and means for training either of said flexible feeding members rearwardly from the central portion of the machine when trained from the top or bottom of its respective feed drum. comprising a pair of coaxial member disposed adjacent the rearward end of said machine for rotation about an axis extending transversely thereof, a guide sheave disposed between said members for rotation about a vertical axis, and a guide sheave carried on the outer end of each of said members for pivotal movement with respect thereto about an axis disposed perpendicularly to the axis of said member and perpendicularly to and offset from. the axis of rotation of said sheave, each of said members being slotted to permit training of said flexible feeding members therethrough.

3. In a cable guide and in combination with a mining machine, a winding drum having a flexible feeding member thereon, and means for guiding said flexible feeding member in a plurality of directions when trained from the top or bottom of said drum comprising a rotatable guide sheave disposed rearwardly of said drum and carried for pivotal movement about an axis oifset from its axis of rotation, and means for permitting the angle of said sheave to be adjusted to conform to the angle of said flexible feeding member comprising a supporting member carried at the rearward end of said machine for pivotal movement with respect thereto about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said winding drum, said member being hollow to permit training of said flexible feeding member therethrough.

4. In a cable guide and in combination with a mining machine, a winding drum having a flexible feeding member thereon, and means for guiding said flexible feeding member in a pinrality of directions when trained from the top or bottom of said drum comprising a rotatable guide sheave disposed rearwardly of said drum and carried for pivotal movement about an offset axis perpendicular to its axis of rotation, and means for permitting the angle of said sheave to be adjusted to conform to the angle of said flexible feeding member comprising a supporting member carried at the rearward end of said machine for pivotal movement with respect thereto about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said winding drum, said member being slotted along its longest axis to permit training of said flexible feeding member therethrough.

5. In a cable guide and in combination with a mining machine, a winding drum having a flexible feeding member thereon, and means for guiding said flexible feeding member in a plurality of directions when trained from the top or bottom of said drum comprising a rotatable guide sheave disposed rearwardly of said drum and carried for pivotal movement about an offset axis perpendicular to its axis of rotation, and

means for permitting the angle of said sheave to be adjusted to conform to the angle of said flexible feeding member comprising a supporting member carried at the rearward end of said machine for pivotal movement with respect thereto about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said winding drum, said member being hollow and slotted along its longest axis to permit said cable to be readily trained therethrough and being adapted to be held in fixed relation with respect to said machine.

6. Guide means for a mining machine flexible feeding member comprising a support member pivotally adjustable about an axis perpendicular to the direction from which said flexible feeding member is trained from its winding drum, a guide sheave pivotally supported thereby for pivotal movement about an axis offset from and perpendicular to its axis of rotation to permit said feeding member to be trained from said sheave in more than one direction, said support member being hollow to permit said feeding member to be trained therethrough.

7. Guide means for a mining machine flexible feeding member comprising a support member pivotally adjustable about an axis perpendicular to the direction from which said flexible feeding member is trained from its winding drum, a guide sheave pivotally supported thereby for pivotal movement about an axis offset from and perpendicular to its axis of rotation to permit said feeding member to be trained from said sheave in more than one direction, said support member being hollow and slotted to permit said feeding member to be trained therethrough.

8. In a cable guiding means of the class described, a winding drum having a cooperating flexible cable wound thereon, and means for guiding said flexible cable to either side of said drum when trained from the top or bottom thereof comprising a support member mounted for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said winding drum, and a sheave supported on said member for adjustment about an I axis perpendicular to and offset from its axis of rotation and perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said member, and said member being hollow to permit said cable to be trained therethrough.

9. In a cable guiding means of the class described, a winding drum having a cooperating flexible cable wound thereon, and means for guiding said flexible cable to either side of said drum when trained from the top or bottom thereof comprising a support member mounted for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said winding drum, and a sheave supported on said member for adjustment about an axis perpendicular to and offset from its axis of rotation and perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said member, and said member being hollow and slotted along one side thereof to permit said cable to be trained therethrough.

10. In a cable guiding means of the class described, a winding drum having a cooperating flexible cable wound theron, and means for guiding said flexible cable to either side of said drum when trained from the top or bottom therof comprising a support member mounted for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said winding drum, and a sheave supported on said member for adjustment about an axis perpendicular to and offset from its axis of rotation and perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said member, said member being hollow to permit said cable to be trained therethrough, and means for holding said member in various positions of adjustment with respect to said drum for holding said sheave in adjustment with respect to the angle of inclination of said flexible cable.

11. In a cable guiding means of the class described, a winding drum having a cooperating flexible cable wound thereon, and means for guiding said cable to either side of said drum when trained from the top or bottom thereof comprising a support member mounted for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to but beneath the axis of rotation of said winding drum, and a sheave supported on said member for adjustment about an axis perpendicular to and offset from its axis of rotation, said axis intersecting the center line of the groove of said sheave and a line extending centrally between the flanges of said drum and being perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said member, and said member being hollow to permit said cable to be trained therethrough.

12. In a cable guiding means of the class described, a winding drum having a cooperating flexible cable wound theron, and means for guiding said cable to either side of said drum when trained from the top or bottom thereof comprising a support member mounted for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to but beneath the axis of rotation of said winding drum, and a sheave supported on said member for adjustment about an axis perpendicular to and offset from its axis of rotation, said axis intersecting the center line of the groove of said sheave and a line extending centrally between the flanges of said drum and being perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said member, and said member being hollow and slotted along one side thereof to permit said cable to be trained therethrough.

13. In a cable guiding means of the class described a winding drum having a cooperating flexible cable wound thereon, and means for guiding said cable to either side of said drum when trained from the top or bottom thereof comprising a support member mounted for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to but beneath the axis of rotation of said winding drum, and a sheave supported on said member for adjustment about an axis perpendicular to and offset from its axis of rotation, said axis intersecting the center line of the groove of said sheave and a line extending centrally between the flanges of said drum and being perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said member, and said member being hollow to permit said cable to be trained therethrough, and means for holding said member in various positions of adjustment with respect to said drum for adjusting said sheave to the angle of inclination of said flexible cable.

FRANK A. LINDGREN. 

